HB354 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Pebblin W. WarrenRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Dan WilliamsElaine BeechJohn W. RogersPhil WilliamsHoward SanderfordBarry MaskJoe HubbardMike BallMac McCutcheonMary MooreOliver RobinsonThad McClammyJim Patterson

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Beer, cider, and wine, homebrewing in limited amounts by person 21 years of age or older for personal use authorized without taxation or licensure, penalties, convicted felon prohibited from homebrewing (2012-20414)

Summary

HB354 would let adults 21+ legally brew a limited amount of beer, mead, cider, and table wine at home for personal use without taxes or licenses, with specific limits and rules.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, adults 21+ who are not felons and not in dry areas could produce up to 15 gallons per quarter at their home for personal use, and may keep up to 15 gallons on hand at any time. The beverages could not be sold or removed from the home except up to 10 gallons per event for organized homebrew competitions licensed by the ABC, with certain restrictions on licensing and venue. The bill also prohibits under-21 individuals from purchasing, possessing, or transporting the beverages or brewing equipment, and it bars felons from homebrewing. It adds definitions for mead and cider to the state code and sets violations at a Class B misdemeanor; production is not allowed in dry counties or dry municipalities.

Who It Affects

• Adults 21 years and older (and not convicted felons) who live in areas that permit such activity would be able to brew up to 15 gallons per quarter at home for personal use and keep up to 15 gallons on hand.
• Felons would be prohibited from homebrewing any beer, mead, cider, or table wine under this act.
• People under 21 would be barred from purchasing, possessing, transporting, or training to obtain equipment related to homebrewing.
• Residents of dry counties or dry municipalities would not be allowed to produce beer, mead, cider, or table wine under this act.
• Individuals or groups hosting organized homebrew competitions could transport up to 10 gallons to licensed events, but the events could not involve sale of alcohol and could not be held at premises of existing licensees.

Key Provisions

• Allows 21+ individuals who have no felony conviction and are not otherwise prohibited to produce beer, mead, cider, and table wine for personal use at their legal residence without taxes or license requirements, up to 15 gallons per calendar quarter and not more than 15 gallons on hand at any time.
• Prohibits sale or offering for sale of home-produced beverages and restricts removal from the residence to quantities no larger than 10 gallons per event, with transport allowed to licensed homebrew competition events under a special events license (without allowing sale).
• Remains silent on production of distilled spirits; explicitly prohibits use of distilling equipment in the production of beer, mead, cider, or table wine under this act.
• Imposes under-21 restrictions: it is unlawful for someone under 21 to purchase, possess, or transport the beverages or the equipment used to produce them; it is unlawful for a seller to provide such equipment to someone under 21.
• Not permitted in dry counties or dry municipalities; the act applies only where local laws allow such production (wet areas).
• Adds definitions of mead and cider to Section 28-3-1, alongside existing definitions for beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.
• Violations of these provisions are Class B misdemeanors.
• The act references a constitutional amendment-related provision about local-funds expenditures but notes it is exempt from local-funds requirements because it defines a new or amended crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alcoholic Beverages